Prince George Learns to Swim

Louis Milman Reporting

JOHN STILLWELL/AFP/Getty Images(LONDON) -- It's the biggest little secret and now it can be revealed: Everyone's favorite prince is learning to swim.

Like his father and grandfather before him, Prince George is experiencing the royal splash-about with his mother at the world's most exclusive gym, the Buckingham Palace pool. Kate was seen driving in to the grounds of Buckingham Palace with George and a nanny in tow on his birthday Tuesday.

Many assumed she had brought him to visit his grandfather, but the Duchess of Cambridge has been teaching the future king how to swim.

Both William and Kate are avid water sports buffs. Prince William captained his water polo team and Kate is understood to do laps at the Palace pool to stay fit.

Princess Diana took William and Harry to Buckingham Palace as young boys. She too was an avid swimmer, and wanted her sons to benefit from all the enjoyment that water sports bring.

The pool is located in the rear of the Palace in a stunning conservatory-type area adjacent to the beautiful back gardens. Generations of royal children have enjoyed the pool and now Prince George is among them.

At a recent event at the British Sub-Aqua Club, Prince Charles passed the presidency to his son Prince William and reminisced how he too taught his son to love the water.

"I threw him in the pool on occasions. Instead of putting him off, it enthused him," Charles said.

"I hope one day my son George might follow in our footsteps," added William. "At the moment, bath time is quite painful but hopefully donning a snorkel and mask might calm him down "